Saturday, October 13, 2012

The glory days of the TRANVIAS were featured in these
postcards during the turn-of-the-century.

In 1881, the street car was introduced in the Philippines:
Its blueprint was ready as early as 1878 by Leon Monssour. However, the plans remained
as plans because there was as yet no financier.

In 1881, Jacobo Zobel de Zangroniz accepted the government
offer to construct and operate the streetcar system under a contract for 60 years.
Campania de 1os Tranvias de Filipinas was founded to manage the concession.

Over 1,200,000 pesetas went into the construction of the
line. Experts were hired from abroad to supervise the installation of the tracks. To
speed up the completion of the terminals in Intramuros, Binondo, Tondo, Malabon, and
Sampaloc, Chinese laborers were hired to help the native workers .

The public was enthused. Although the tranvias had seats for
12 and room for eight strap-hangers, it was normal for a car to have a total of 30
passengers. An American visitor once wrote: "It is no uncommon thing on a
slight rise or sharp turn for all hands to get off and help the vehicle over
the difficulty."

With the American takeover of the Philippines, the
Philippine Commission allowed the Manila Electric Railroad and Light Company
(MERALCO) to take over the properties of the Compañia de los Tranvias de
Filipinas, with the first of twelve mandated electric tranvia (tram) lines
operated by MERALCO opening in Manila in 1905. At the end of the first year
around 63 kilometers (39 miles) of track had been laid. A five-year
reconstruction program was initiated in 1920, and by 1924, 170 cars serviced
many parts of the city and its outskirts. Although it was an efficient system
for the city's 220,000 inhabitants, by the 1930s the streetcar network had
stopped expanding.

Source: Ayala Museum Diorama Book

1908 postcard featuring the
tranvia or tramvia (electric street tram) that used to ply the
streets of Manila. It was operated by the Manila Electric Railroad and
Light Company (the same Meralco we know today.) The tranvia operated
until just before World War 2 (WWII) broke.